The chief executive of NHS England stunned health workers by posting a link to film scenes of Hitler’s downfall with subtitles jokingly portraying Tim Kelsey, the national director for patients and information, as the Nazi leader.

The four-minute YouTube clip mocks the Government’s flagship scheme to create a controversial NHS database which has been heavily criticised by privacy campaigners.

Poking fun at the Health Secretary, the video shows Hitler with the subtitle stating: "Jeremy Hunt is right behind us" only to be told "Jeremy Hunt is hiding behind a tree".

It continues: "The Government is saying nothing. They are all hiding behind trees."

The spoof - called "Tim Kelsey discovers that care.data is in trouble" - also suggest the database scheme aimed to hoodwink patients and was in fact a money spinner to make millions including for pharmaceutical and insurance companies.

In a further scene of the Fuhrer, the subtitle mocking Mr Kelsey says: "Who cares about ordinary people? They never understand things.

"They don’t have my vision for a better world."

The video adds: "People didn’t care when we sold off the NHS. They barely blinked. Why do they care now?"

Apparently referring to the Government’s controversial work capability assessments, carried out by the private contractor Atos, it adds: "We just need to explain better. When they know ATOS has the contract. Then they’ll be reassured."

Sir David made the tweet yesterday and apologised on Twitter this morning before the link was taken down.

"@tkelsey1 sorry this is what happens when you give an old bloke with an over developed sense of humour new tech you’re doing a great job X," he messaged.

But shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne said: "There can be no excuse for showing Jeremy Hunt and his top officials in such an offensive video."

Conservative MP Charlotte Leslie added: "This is absolutely shocking. He has done a very good job in portraying complete contempt not only for a co-worker but also the Secretary of State who has been so loyally defending him.

"This is another reason why he should have gone a long time ago."

Sir David has been dubbed the "man with no shame" for failing to take more action as a regional health chief to stop the Mid-Staffordshire health scandal in which hundreds of patients may have died unnecessarily.

Mr Kelsey, who is believed to have been angered by Sir David’s tweet, joined NHS England from the Cabinet Office where he was executive director of transparency and open data.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Sir David’s tweets are a matter for Sir David."

A spokesperson for NHS England said: "Sir David very much hopes his tweet did not cause any offence, that was not his intention at all. He knows his team is doing a really important and complex job for patients, one which is critical for the NHS."